The personification of “Midwest Nice” gave the GOP ticket new life after Tuesday’s outstanding debate performance. Not only did Pence brilliantly make a positive case for the GOP retaking the White House but he defended the ticket and landed a few punches of his own.

If Donald Trump, takes a breath, resets himself, buckles-down for the debates and works behind his surrogates for the coming week, he will be on track for victory. The polling has some very interesting notes in it which bear on the republican’s eventual success but he has to perform this week.

First, I reiterate, Team Trump needed to present a non-gaffe prone, presidential candidate well-versed on the issues in the first debate. Mission Accomplished. In the next debate, more has to be done on the issues and a better style has to be presented while preserving the best of the first debate.